[Analysis on the vaccination coverage of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in China from 2017 to 2021].
Objective: To explore the vaccination coverage of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in China from 2017 to 2021. Methods: Using the reported number of PCV13 administrated doses from 2017 to 2021 and the population data from 31 provinces in China, which were collected by the Immunization Program Information System and summarized data at different levels (prefecture, provincial, and national). Collecting batch release data of PCV13 during the same period through the official website of the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control. The average coverage level of PCV13 was calculated by comparing the number of PCV13 vaccinations reported annually to the number of births in that year, and the spatial auto-correlation analysis was conducted in 2021 at the prefecture level. The coverage of PCV13 vaccination was estimated by the total vaccine doses administered each year divided by the number of newborn in the year, as of the administrated dose number per 100 people. Results: From March 2017 to December 2020, the total batch release of PCV13 was 20.06 million, with a total of 71.54, 384.75, 475.45, and 10.8886 million doses each year. During the same period, PCV13 reported doses were 20.2369 million and the vaccination doses from 2017 to 2021 were 4.08, 170.46, 407.52, 599.77, and 8.4185 million doses, respectively. From 2017 to 2021, the ratio of PCV13 doses administrated per 100 infants in each year was 0.25, 10.26, 23.81, 38.16, and 69.90 doses per 100 people, respectively. The range of the ratio in each province increased from 3.85 doses in 2017 to 264.41 doses per 100 people in 2021. The spatial auto-correlation analysis results showed that based on prefecture-level cities, there was spatial clustering in a certain area of PCV13 coverage from 2017 to 2021, and the spatial correlation in 2021 was the highest. The hotspot analysis showed that the hotspot areas with high coverage levels of PCV13 were concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian and their surrounding areas. The cold spots with low vaccine coverage were concentrated in Yunnan, Qinghai, Tibet, and their surrounding areas. Conclusion: The average coverage level of PCV13 is low in China with significant regional differences.


Feasibility of endoscopic submandibular ganglion neurectomy for drooling.
We performed endoscopic transoral neurectomy of the submandibular and sublingual glands to treat drooling. We bilaterally operated two adult cases with treatment-resistant drooling. In these patients, conventional treatment had failed. Repeated botilinum toxin type A (BOTOX®, Abdi Ibrahim Pharmaceutical Company, Istanbul, Turkey) injections had been effective but were becoming less so. The patients benefited from surgery in that their saliva scores decreased. No issue emerged over 6 months of follow-up. Endoscopic transoral neurectomy of the submandibular and sublingual glands reduces saliva production and allows management of drooling in treatment-resistant patients. Laryngoscope, 127:1604-1607, 2017.


Measuring the effective height for atom gravimeters by applying a frequency jump to Raman lasers.
As the existence of the gravity gradient, the output of gravimeters is actually the gravitational acceleration at the reference instrumental height. Precise knowledge of the reference height is indispensable in the utilization of gravity measurements, especially for absolute gravimeters. Here, we present an interferometric method to measure the distance between the atomic cloud and a reflecting mirror directly, which consequently determines the reference height of our atom gravimeter. This interferometric method is based on a frequency jump of Raman lasers applied at the π pulse of the atom interferometer, which induces an additional phase shift proportional to the interested distance. An uncertainty of 2 mm is achieved here for the distance measurement, and the effect of the gravity gradient on absolute gravity measurements can thus be constrained within 1 μGal. This work provides a concrete-object-based measurement of the reference height for atom gravimeters.


Proteolytic disassembly of peptide-mediated graphene oxide assemblies for turn-on fluorescence sensing of proteases.
Molecule-induced assembly of nanomaterials can alter their unique chemical and physical properties, which can be a promising approach for sensing. Herein, we demonstrate an optical 'turn-on' biosensor for the detection of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), fabricated by means of a peptide-induced assembly of fluorescent graphene oxide (GO). Functionalization of GO with a peptide substrate for MMP-2 bearing a thiol group leads to its self-assembly via disulfide bonding, accompanied by self-quenching of GO's strong fluorescence. This peptide-induced GO assembly is then disassembled by proteolytic cleavage in the presence of MMP-2, thereby restoring the level of self-quenched GO fluorescence. With this approach, we are able to detect MMP-2 and to investigate the kinetic parameters of MMP-2 activity. The GO-peptide assembly is successfully applied to the selective and sensitive detection of MMP-2 secreted by living cells, human hepatocytes HepG2, at a concentration of 2 ng mL(-1).


Human IgG aggregates induce selective stimulation of IgM rheumatoid factor synthesis by rheumatoid blood mononuclear cells.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) contain precursor B lymphocytes specific for IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) synthesis. In this study, human IgG aggregates (HaIgG) were used to stimulate monocyte-depleted PBM from 46 patients with RA and 21 normal controls. The cells were incubated with HaIgG and pokeweed mitogen for 72 hours, washed, and then cultured in microwells for an additional 11 days. HaIgG induced an increase in IgM-RF synthesis by RA cells with optimum response at 0.1 microgram/ml (P less than 0.001). Total IgM synthesis remained unchanged. In contrast, HaIgG did not stimulate IgM-RF production by normal cells. Specificity of the IgM-RF response was shown by the concomitantly increased IgM-RF/IgM ratios, while IgM anti-trinitrophenyl antibodies did not increase. Aggregation of the IgG was required for it to be an effective stimulus. The findings suggest that circulating immune complexes in RA patients may provide the stimulus for sustained production of IgM-RF in vivo.


Paenibacillus konkukensis sp. nov., isolated from animal feed.
A Gram-stain-positive, oxidase- and catalase-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SK-3146T, was isolated from animal feed. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, revealed that the strain formed a distinct lineage within the genus Paenibacillus that was closely related to Paenibacillusyunnanensis JCM 30953T (98.6 %), Paenibacillusvulneris CCUG 53270T (98.0 %) and Paenibacilluschinjuensis DSM 15045T (96.9 %). Cells were non-motile, endospore-forming and formed milky colonies on NA and R2A agar media. Growth of strain SK-3146T occurred at temperatures of 18-45 °C, at pH 6.0-9.5 and between 0.5-3.0 % NaCl (w/v). The major menaquinone was MK-7, with lesser amounts of MK-6 present. The cell wall peptidoglycan of strain SK-3146T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 53.8 mol% and the DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain SK-3146T and P.yunnanensis JCM 30953T and P.vulneris CCUG 53270T were 26.13±0.8 % and 38.7±0.6 %, respectively. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results indicate that strain SK-3146T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus konkukensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SK-3146T (=KACC 18876T=LMG 29568T).


Phenylethynyl-BODIPY oligomers: bright dyes and fluorescent building blocks.
Boradiazaindacene dyes were converted into phenylethynyl-BODIPY oligomers via a cycle of reactions, notably including Sonogashira couplings. As expected, as the number, n, of repeating units increases, peak absorption and emission wavelengths are shifted to the red end of the visible spectrum, albeit with smaller increments as n increases. Decyl groups help to keep the solubility remarkably high, and in addition to being very bright red-emitting fluorophores, their rigid rod-like structures could allow their use as functional building blocks.


Influence of Hartree-Fock exchange on the calculated Mössbauer isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings in ferrocene derivatives using density functional theory.
Influence of molecular geometry, type of exchange-correlation functional, and contraction scheme of basis set applied at the iron nuclei have been tested in the calculation of 57Fe Mössbauer isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings for a wide range of ligand types, as well as oxidation and spin states, in inorganic and organometallic systems. It has been found that uncontraction of the s-part of Wachter's full-electron basis set at the iron nuclei does not appreciably improve the calculated isomer shifts. The observed correlations for all tested sets of geometries are close to each other and predominantly depend on the employed exchange-correlation functional with B3LYP functional being slightly better as compared to BPW91. Both hybrid (B3LYP) and pure (BPW91) exchange-correlation functionals are suitable for the calculation of isomer shifts in organometallic compounds. Surprisingly, it has been found that the hybrid B3LYP exchange-correlation functional completely fails in accurate prediction of quadrupole splittings in ferrocenes, while performance of the pure BPW91 functional for the same systems was excellent. This observation has been explained on the basis of relationship between the amount of Hartree-Fock exchange involved in the applied exchange-correlation functional and the calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap in ferrocenes. On the basis of this explanation, use of only pure exchange-correlation functionals has been suggested for accurate prediction of Mössbauer spectra parameters in ferrocenes.


Molecular signature incorporating the immune microenvironment enhances thyroid cancer outcome prediction.
Genomic and transcriptomic analysis has furthered our understanding of many tumors. Yet, thyroid cancer management is largely guided by staging and histology, with few molecular prognostic and treatment biomarkers. Here, we utilize a large cohort of 251 patients with 312 samples from two tertiary medical centers and perform DNA/RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and multiplex immunofluorescence to identify biomarkers of aggressive thyroid malignancy. We identify high-risk mutations and discover a unique molecular signature of aggressive disease, the Molecular Aggression and Prediction (MAP) score, which provides improved prognostication over high-risk mutations alone. The MAP score is enriched for genes involved in epithelial de-differentiation, cellular division, and the tumor microenvironment. The MAP score also identifies aggressive tumors with lymphocyte-rich stroma that may benefit from immunotherapy. Future clinical profiling of the stromal microenvironment of thyroid cancer could improve prognostication, inform immunotherapy, and support development of novel therapeutics for thyroid cancer and other stroma-rich tumors.


Lymphocyte subpopulations during acute and convalescence phases of malaria.
Lymphocytes of normal healthy persons were separated from blood by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation and iron-magnet application. peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were stained by various dye-labeled monoclonal antibodies. Cells positive for specific surface markers were enumerated by a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and fluorescence microscope (FM). The results revealed that the percentages of cells positive with one monoclonal antibody counted by these two techniques were similar while the percentages of cells with double staining were higher when counted by FACS than by FM. Lymphocyte subpopulations of 18 patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum during acute and convalescence period were studied. Lymphocytopenia occurred during the acute infection while total white blood cell counts were normal. PBL of the patients were stained with OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, Leu-11 and a combination of Leu-7, Leu-1 monoclonal antibodies. The absolute numbers of all lymphocyte subpopulations were decreased during the acute infection while T8 positive cells were decreased in both percentage and absolute number. Thus T4:T8 ratio (1.7:1) became higher than normal (1.3:1) at this period. During convalescence phase, absolute numbers and percentages of Leu-7+, Leu-1+ and perhaps Leu-7+, Leu-11- cells which had low NK cell activity were significantly higher than during acute illness. The finding might explain why the NK cell activity was low during the convalescence period.


Sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease.
Depression, dementia, and physiologic changes contribute to the high prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Antiparkinsonian drugs also play a role in insomnia by increasing daytime sleepiness and affecting motor symptoms and depression. Common types of sleep disturbances in PD patients include nocturnal sleep disruption and excessive daytime sleepiness, restless legs syndrome, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, sleep apnea, sleep walking and sleep talking, nightmares, sleep terrors, and panic attacks. A thorough assessment should include complete medical and psychiatric histories, sleep history, and a 1- to 2-week sleep diary or Epworth Sleepiness Scale evaluation. Polysomnography or actigraphy may also be indicated. Treatment should address underlying factors such as depression or anxiety. Hypnotic therapy for sleep disturbances in PD patients should be approached with care because of the risks of falling, agitation, drowsiness, and hypotension. Behavioral interventions may also be useful.


Cognitive functioning in everyday life: The development of a questionnaire on instrumental activities of daily living in multiple sclerosis.
Neuropsychological test scores in people with MS (PwMS) do not fully reflect cognitive functioning in daily life. Therefore, we developed a questionnaire based on instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), using the Amsterdam IADL-Q© for Alzheimer's disease as starting point. Forty-eight items were evaluated on relevance and clarity by (inter)national experts (n = 30), PwMS (n = 61) and proxies (n = 30). Consequently, four items were omitted, two items were merged and seven items were added. Fifty items were included in the IADL questionnaire specific to cognitive functioning in MS (the MS-IADL-Q). Future studies are warranted to assess the psychometric properties of the MS-IADL-Q.


Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis.
Autoimmune hepatitis has diverse clinical presentations which complicate its diagnosis and adverse outcomes which demand new treatments. The aims of this review are to indicate the progress that has been made in solving these problems and to illuminate the pathway for additional solutions. Prime source and review articles in English were selected through Medline from 1970-2008 and assimilated into a personal library spanning 31 years. Two diagnostic scoring systems with complementary virtues have been developed that are useful in evaluating patients with confusing features. Acute severe and fulminant presentations require prompt corticosteroid therapy, and coincidental bile duct changes and centrilobular zone 3 necrosis on histological examination do not discount the diagnosis. Cholangio-graphic changes may be present in children and adults with the disease, and antibodies to soluble liver antigen have prognostic value. Autoimmune hepatitis must be considered in patients without autoantibodies and with graft dysfunction after liver transplantation. Asymptomatic patients may not require immediate treatment, and the Model of End Stage Liver Disease identifies problematic patients early. Normal liver tests and tissue constitute the optimal end point of treatment, and the first relapse is an indication for long-term azathioprine therapy. Cyclosporine, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil are promising salvage therapies, and budesonide with azathioprine can be used as frontline treatment in select patients. Progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis, but more work must be done. Multicenter clinical trials are essential before the incorporation of new drugs into the treatment algorithm.


Targeting Wnt Signaling through Small molecules in Governing Stem Cell Fate and Diseases.
The conserved Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is responsible for multiple functions including regulation of stem cell pluripotency, cell migration, self-renewability and cell fate determination. This signaling pathway is of utmost importance, owing to its ability to fuel tissue repair and regeneration of stem cell activity in diverse organs. The human adult stem cells including hematopoietic cells, intestinal cells, mammary and mesenchymal cells rely on the manifold effects of Wnt pathway. The consequences of any dysfunction or manipulation in the Wnt genes or Wnt pathway components result in specific developmental defects and may even lead to cancer, as it is often implicated in stem cell control. It is absolutely essential to possess a comprehensive understanding of the inhibition and/ or stimulation of the Wnt signaling pathway which in turn is implicated in determining the fate of the stem cells. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the studies associated with the implementation of small molecule compounds in key areas of stem cell biology including regeneration differentiation, proliferation. In support of this statement, small molecules have unfolded as imperative tools to selectively activate and inhibit specific developmental signaling pathways involving the less complex mechanism of action. These compounds have been reported to modulate the core molecular mechanisms by which the stem cells regenerate and differentiate. This review aims to provide an overview of the prevalent trends in the small molecules based regulation of stem cell fate via targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.


Low intelligence and special abilities.
In summary, our research enables us to conclude that specific talents are found in people who differ widely in general intelligence levels and such talents should therefore be regarded as at least partly intelligence-independent. However, between normal and mentally handicapped populations and even within the idiot savant group, general cognitive capacity plays some part in determining the manner in which talents manifest themselves. Idiot savant special abilities can neither be regarded as the sole consequence of practice and training, nor are such skills based only on an efficient rote memory. Instead, idiots savants use strategies which are founded on the deduction and application of rules governing the material upon which their special ability operates. They also generate novel or new examples of such rule based structures just as we do in our use of language. Because of the much greater prevalence of idiots savants in the autistic than in the mentally handicapped population, some characteristic common to both autism and specific giftedness might be assumed. An obsessional pre-occupation with a limited section of the environment might be a common factor to both. It may be this rather than autism itself which is relevant to the idiot savant phenomenon.


Tailored Design of Bicontinuous Gyroid Mesoporous Carbon and Nitrogen-Doped Carbon from Poly(ethylene oxide-b-caprolactone) Diblock Copolymers.
Highly ordered mesoporous resol-type phenolic resin and the corresponding mesoporous carbon materials were synthesized by using poly(ethylene oxide-b-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) diblock copolymer as a soft template. The self-assembled mesoporous phenolic resin was found to form only in a specific resol concentration range of 40-70 wt % due to an intriguing balance of hydrogen-bonding interactions in the resol/PEO-b-PCL mixtures. Furthermore, morphological transitions of the mesostructures from disordered to gyroid to cylindrical and finally to disordered micelle structure were observed with increasing resol concentration. By calcination under nitrogen atmosphere at 800 °C, the bicontinuous mesostructured gyroid phenolic resin could be converted to mesoporous carbon with large pore size without collapse of the original mesostructure. Furthermore, post-treatment of the mesoporous gyroid phenolic resin with melamine gave rise to N-doped mesoporous carbon with unique electronic properties for realizing high CO2 adsorption capacity (6.72 mmol g-1 at 0 °C).


Volatility and Persistence of Value-Based Purchasing Adjustments: A Challenge to Integrating Population Health and Community Benefit Into Business Operations.
With the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, Medicare's Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) began a transition to value-based purchasing (VBP) that rewards or penalizes hospitals based on patient satisfaction, clinical processes of care, outcomes, and efficiency metrics. However, hospital-level volatility vs. persistence in value-based payments year-over-year could result in unpredictable cash flows that negatively influence investment behavior, drive underinvestment in community benefit/population health management initiatives, and make management of the factors that drive the VBP adjustment more challenging. To evaluate the volatility and persistence of hospital VBP adjustments, the sample includes VBP adjustments and the associated domain scores for the 2,547 hospitals that participated in the program from 2013 to 2016. The sample includes urban (74%), teaching (29.1%), system affiliated (46.5%), and not-for-profit (63.6%) facilities. Volatility was measured using basic descriptive statistics, relative risk ratios, and a fixed effect, autoregressive, dynamic panel model that robust-clustered the standard errors. There is substantial change in a given facility's total VBP score with an average standard deviation of 10.74 (on a 100-point scale) that is driven by significant volatility in all metrics but particularly by efficiency and outcomes metrics. Relative risk ratios have dropped substantially over the life of the program, and there is low persistence of VBP scores from one period to the next. Findings indicate that if hospitals receive a positive adjustment in 1 year, they are almost as likely to receive a negative adjustment as a positive adjustment the following year. Furthermore, using a fixed-effect dynamic panel model that controls for autocorrelation, we find that only 13.5% of a facility's prior year IPPS adjustment (positive or negative) carries forward to the next year. The low persistence makes investment in population health management and community benefit more challenging.


Spatial adaptation of the cortical visual evoked potential of the cat.
Adaptation that is spatially specific for the adapting pattern has been seen psychophysically in humans. This is indirect evidence for independent analyzers (putatively single units) that are specific for orientation and spatial frequency in the human visual system, but it is unclear how global adaptation characteristics may be related to single unit performance. Spatially specific adaptation was sought in the cat visual evoked potential (VEP), with a view towards relating this phenomenon with what we know of cat single units. Adaptation to sine-wave gratings results in a temporary loss of cat VEP amplitude, with induction and recovery similar to that seen in human psychophysical experiments. The amplitude loss was specific for both the spatial frequency and orientation of the adapting pattern. The bandwidth of adaptation was not unlike the average selectivity of a population of cat single units.


The actions of insulin-like growth factors I and II on cultured Sertoli cells.
Cultured Sertoli cells prepared from young rats (13 days old) showed increased incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA, increased production of lactate, and increased incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein in response to micromolar concentrations of insulin and nanomolar concentrations of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). The first of these responses was also seen with nanomolar concentrations of IGF-I. Receptor affinity labeling studies using Sertoli cell membranes and whole Sertoli cells showed that these cells possess abundant growth factor receptors of type I (mol wt, 350,000) that show high affinity for IGF-I, moderate affinity for IGF-II, and low affinity for insulin. Sertoli cell membranes also show abundant growth factor receptors of type II (mol wt, 230,000) that show high affinity for IGF-II, moderate affinity for IGF-I, and no detectable affinity for insulin. Moreover, the responses of the Sertoli cell to insulin were observed at concentrations of 100 nM or higher, whereas insulin receptors are known to be saturated by insulin at concentrations of 10 nM or less. It is, therefore, concluded that Sertoli cells possess receptors for IGF-I and that the responses observed to insulin may result from binding of these hormones to receptors for IGF-I.


Feasibility of endoscopic mucosal resection as salvage treatment for patients with local failure after definitive chemoradiotherapy for stage IB, II, and III esophageal squamous cell cancer.
Local failure after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for stage IB, II, and III esophageal cancer is one of the causes of poor outcome. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is an effective treatment for superficial esophageal cancer. However, its feasibility as a salvage treatment for local recurrent or residual tumors after definitive CRT for stage IB, II, and III esophageal cancer remains unclear. Between January 2000 and February 2008, 274 patients with stage IB, II, and III esophageal squamous cell cancer excluding T4 received definitive CRT at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Japan. Of these patients, nine patients with local recurrence after achieving complete response and two patients with residual tumor underwent salvage EMR. The technique of salvage EMR involved a strip biopsy method. We retrospectively reviewed the 11 patients (13 lesions). Characteristics of all 11 patients were as follows: median age of 69 (range: 45-78); male/female: 10/1; baseline clinical stage (Union for International Cancer Control 7th) IB/IIA/IIB/III: 1/3/7/0. The depth of resected tumor was limited to the mucosal layer in seven lesions and submucosal in six lesions. En bloc resection was performed on six lesions (46%). The vertical margin was free of cancer cells in 11 lesions (84.6%). No major complications, such as hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion and perforation, were experienced. At a median follow-up period of 38.9 months (range: 5.3-94 months) after salvage EMR, no recurrence was detected in six patients (54%). Local recurrence was detected in five patients (27%). Of these patients, two had lung metastasis simultaneously, and one was also detected lung metastasis 2 months after the detection of local recurrence. The 5-year survival rate after salvage EMR was 41.6%. Salvage EMR is a feasible treatment option for local recurrent or residual lesions after definitive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for stage IB, II, and III esophageal squamous cell cancer.


Selective enrichment of CD30-expressing cells within the blast region of lymphocytes from patients with primary HIV infection (PHI).
Individuals experiencing a primary infection with HIV (PHI) are known to undergo a potent activation of their humoral and cellular immune response. We investigated the expression of CD30 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 PHI patients before their initiation of HAART, since elevated levels of its soluble form, sCD30, have been previously documented in the plasma/sera of PHI patients. We also analyzed other lymphocyte-associated activation markers, including CD69, CD25 and HLA-DR. When looking at total lymphocytes, HLA-DR was expressed on the majority of lymphocytes, followed evenly by CD69 and CD25, and last by CD30. Of note, we observed that 13 out of these 15 patients displayed a characteristic expansion of lymphocytes with larger morphology (termed blasts). When a morphologic gate was drawn on these blasts, the percentage of CD25-, CD69-positive cells remained substantially unchanged, that of HLA-DR-positive cells augmented, but the the most striking increase occurred in the percentage of CD30-expressing lymphocytes. Therefore, although all of the molecules studied are considered lymphocyte activation markers, CD30 is most likely to be expressed within cycling/proliferating cells of the lymphoblast fraction during the earliest phases of HIV infection.


Multi-imaging capabilities of a 2D diffraction grating in combination with digital holography.
In this Letter we report on an alternative approach to get multiple images in microscopy, exploiting the capabilities of both a lithium niobate diffraction grating and digital holographic technique. We demonstrate that multi-imaging can be achieved in a lensless configuration by using a hexagonal diffraction grating but overcoming, thanks to digital holography (DH), the many constrains imposed by the grating parameters in multi-imaging with Talbot effect or Talbot array illuminators. In fact, DH permits the numerical reconstruction of the optical field diffracted by the grating, thus obtaining in-focus multiple images in a plane different from the fractional or entire Talbot ones.


Lithium regulation of protein phosphorylation in rat cerebral cortex slices in vitro.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the direct effect of Li+ and Na+-Li+ exchange on protein phosphorylation in rat cerebral cortex slices incubated in Krebs Ringer medium. When Na+ concentration was varied in the incubation medium, either by replacement with Li+ or sucrose, a variable effect on [32P] phosphate incorporation into proteins was observed. Protein phosphorylation in cerebral cortex slices was very low in the absence of Na+, and some dependence of phosphorylating system of neural tissue on extra cellular concentration of Na+ was evident. Lithium was not able to replace sodium as far as protein phosphorylation in cortical slices is concerned. Ouabain was more effective in a Li+ containing medium in inhibiting protein phosphorylation, presumably due to improper functioning of the sodium pump.


Antimicrobial Potential and Phytochemical Screening of Clathria sp. 1 and Tedania (Tedania) stylonychaeta Sponge Crude Extracts Obtained from the South East Coast of South Africa.
Scientists have continuously searched for novel bioactive compounds to overcome the inherent problems associated with drug resistance, the evolution of unknown diseases, and the toxicity of currently used compounds. The ocean has been considered a rich source of compounds that possess unique chemical structures and novel biological capabilities. Biologically active molecules isolated from marine flora and fauna have shown significant advancement over the past century in the pharmaceutical industry. Marine natural products (MNPs) have been used as nanomedicine, cosmetics, wound healing, antimicrobial agents, anticancer agents, and anti-inflammatory agents. The physicochemical parameters of the collection site were also recorded. This study's marine sponge species were collected from Phillip's Reef, South Africa, at 12 m during the spring season. Ethyl acetate (EA) and dichloromethane : methanol (DCM : ME, 1 : 1) were used as extraction solvents. Crude extracts of the marine sponges were tested against MRSA, P. aeruginosa, C. difficile, A. fumigatus, and C. albicans. Phytochemical screening was conducted to identify seven critical phytochemical groups. A pH reading of 8.01 and a temperature of 15.45°C were recorded at the sampling site. Clathria sp. 1 and Tedania (Tedania) stylonychaeta EA crude extracts showed bioactivity against all five test pathogens. The DCM : ME crude extract of Clathria sp. 1 was the only bioactive crude extract from DCM : ME extracts. This crude extract was only bioactive against C. albicans as no activity was observed against the other four pathogens. EA crude extracts of Clathria sp. 1 yielded more significant inhibition zones against both fungal pathogens. These EA crude extracts performed better than fluconazole as inhibition zones of 35 ± 0 mm at 24 mg/ml, 31 ± 0 mm at 19 mg/ml, 31 ± 0 mm at 14.4 mg/ml, 30 ± 0 mm at 9.6 mg/ml, and 25 ± 0 mm at 7.2 mg/ml were recorded. Clathria sp. 1 crude extracts exhibited higher inhibition zones compared to Tedania (Tedania) stylonychaeta. The antibiotic imipenem (26 ± 0.7 mm at 10 μg) and ciprofloxacin (30 ± 0.3 mm at 5 μg) exhibited higher zones of inhibition than EA crude extracts of Tedania (Tedania) stylonychaeta at all test concentrations. In this study, Clathria sp. 1 was observed to have broad-spectrum bioactivity as EA crude extracts were bioactive against MRSA, P. aeruginosa, C. difficile, A. fumigatus, and C. albicans. In addition to this, the EA crude extract of Clathria sp. 1 was bacteriostatic (9.6 mg/ml). Clathria sp. 1 DCM : ME crude extract only tested positive for the presence of terpenoids. In contrast, EA crude extracts did not test positive for the existence of any of the seven phytochemicals. Our study has revealed that Tedania (Tedania) stylonychaeta and Clathria sp. 1 sponge species collected from Phillip's Reef in South Africa can produce bioactive compounds useful against bacterial and fungal species.


Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a School-Centered Asthma Program: Step-Up Asthma Program.
Asthma is a significant health problem among children: 9.3% of children in the United States suffer from asthma. Children with persistent asthma in inner cities have increased health care utilization, worse health care outcomes, increased school absences, and worse academic performance. We sought to create and evaluate a school-centered asthma program to reduce asthma morbidity and create asthma-friendly schools. We developed, implemented, and evaluated the Step-Up Asthma Program, a multidisciplinary school-centered asthma program. The program was designed as an outreach program with asthma counselors as a bridge between subspecialty asthma care, primary care providers, school nurses, and children with asthma. The core components of the program involve identifying children with asthma, providing evidence-based asthma education, and case management. Students' asthma knowledge, inhaler technique, and number of asthma exacerbations were evaluated over a 2-year period (2010-2012) as a pre-post study. A total of 252 students enrolled in the Step-Up Asthma Program over a 2-year period. Significant improvements were noted in number of asthma action plans, rescue medications at school, and asthma controllers. Program participants had significant improvements in asthma knowledge scores (P < .001) and inhaler technique (P < .0001). There were significant reductions in asthma exacerbations defined as oral steroid courses, urgent care visits, and missed school days (P < .05) that persisted over time. A guideline-based school-centered asthma program can significantly reduce asthma morbidity. The asthma counselor is the cornerstone of the program, providing asthma education and care coordination. The Step-Up Asthma Program is in its 10th year, and we believe the key elements of this program can be implemented in other school systems.


Reported Adverse Health Effects in Children from Ingestion of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers - United States, 2011-2014.
Hand sanitizers are effective and inexpensive products that can reduce microorganisms on the skin, but ingestion or improper use can be associated with health risks. Many hand sanitizers contain up to 60%-95% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol by volume, and are often combined with scents that might be appealing to young children. Recent reports have identified serious consequences, including apnea, acidosis, and coma in young children who swallowed alcohol-based (alcohol) hand sanitizer (1-3). Poison control centers collect data on intentional and unintentional exposures to hand sanitizer solutions resulting from various routes of exposure, including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal and ocular exposures. To characterize exposures of children aged ≤12 years to alcohol hand sanitizers, CDC analyzed data reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS).* The major route of exposure to both alcohol and nonalcohol-based (nonalcohol) hand sanitizers was ingestion. The majority of intentional exposures to alcohol hand sanitizers occurred in children aged 6-12 years. Alcohol hand sanitizer exposures were associated with worse outcomes than were nonalcohol hand sanitizer exposures. Caregivers and health care providers should be aware of the potential dangers associated with hand sanitizer ingestion. Children using alcohol hand sanitizers should be supervised and these products should be kept out of reach from children when not in use.


The role of cellular senescence may be to prevent proliferation of neighboring cells within stem cell niches.
It has long been suspected that cellular senescence is an anticancer mechanism; however, it has been difficult to understand the advantage for the organism of retaining mutant cells in a postmitotic state rather than simply deleting them by apoptosis. It is proposed that in certain circumstances apoptosis promotes neoplasia by causing cells adjacent to the deleted cell to divide and that the role of cellular senescence is to prevent this. This may be particularly important in mammalian stem cell niches. After loss of a stem cell from a niche, another stem cell within the same niche divides symmetrically to restore the original number. The most important human malignancies arise from tissues maintained by stem cells, and there is increasing evidence that stem cells are the targets for at least the initial genetic changes that occur during carcinogenesis. If a subset of stem cells within a niche arises containing an oncogenic mutation, then tumor suppressor mechanisms promote apoptosis of these cells, and the niche restores the original number of stem cells by replication of both normal and mutated stem cells. Thus, paradoxically apoptosis increases turnover of mutant cells with associated risk of further genetic changes. However, if in addition mutant cells can become senescent, then the niche is progressively filled by senescent cells until either the mutant cells are eliminated or the niche is completely occupied by postmitotic cells, thereby preventing further evolution of the neoplastic clone. The consequences of this hypothesis are explored by computer modeling.


Using Structural Empowerment to Improve Outcomes.
In the changing healthcare climate, a robust continuous professional development program is critical to ensure excellent patient care and the best outcomes. It is essential for educators and leaders to understand the factors that enhance the impact of continuous professional development. Organizational leadership must support successful education programs and the ability to provide educational activities. In this month's Magnet® Perspectives, we will review how the Institute of Medicine and Quadruple Aim framework can support structural empowerment through continuous professional development to improve outcomes.


Research Note: Intergenerational Transmission Is Not Sufficient for Positive Long-Term Population Growth.
All leading long-term global population projections agree on continuing fertility decline, resulting in a rate of population size growth that will continue to decline toward zero and would eventually turn negative. However, scholarly and popular arguments have suggested that because fertility transmits intergenerationally (i.e., higher fertility parents tend to have higher fertility children) and is heterogeneous within a population, long-term population growth must eventually be positive, as high-fertility groups come to dominate the population. In this research note, we show that intergenerational transmission of fertility is not sufficient for positive long-term population growth, for empirical and theoretical reasons. First, because transmission is imperfect, the combination of transmission rates and fertility rates may be quantitatively insufficient for long-term population growth: higher fertility parents may nevertheless produce too few children who retain higher fertility preferences. Second, today even higher fertility subpopulations show declining fertility rates, which may eventually fall below replacement (and in some populations already are). Therefore, although different models of fertility transmission across generations reach different conclusions, depopulation is likely under any model if, in the future, even higher fertility subpopulations prefer and achieve below-replacement fertility. These results highlight the plausibility of long-term global depopulation and the importance of understanding the possible consequences of depopulation.


Development of Improved Dosing Regimens for Mycophenolate Mofetil Based on Population Pharmacokinetic Analyses in Adults with Lupus Nephritis.
Mycophenolic acid (MPA) provides effective treatment for lupus nephritis patients. Owing to its large pharmacokinetic variability, it is questionable whether standard fixed dose therapy can achieve optimal MPA exposure. The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of MPA and its metabolite, 7-O-MPA-β-glucuronide (MPAG), to identify important covariate influences and better predict patient dosing requirements. MPA and MPAG concentration-time profiles were collected from 25 patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with or without cyclosporine (CsA) co-therapy. Samples were collected pre-dose and at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post-dose on one or two occasions. A total of 225 and 226 concentration-time measurements of MPA and MPAG, respectively, were used to develop the model, utilizing NONMEM® software. A two-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination for MPA and a one-compartment model with first-order elimination and enterohepatic circulation (EHC) for MPAG best described the data. Apparent clearance of MPAG (CL/F MPAG) significantly decreased with reducing renal function and extent of EHC was reduced with concomitant CsA use. Simulations using the final model showed that a 70-kg subject with a creatinine clearance of 90 mL/min receiving concomitant CsA would require 1.25 g of MMF twice daily while a similar subject who did not receive concomitant CsA would require 0.75 g twice daily to achieve a MPA area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC0-12) of 45 mg·h/L. A 'tiered' dosing approach considering patient renal function and CsA co-therapy, rather than a 'one dose fits all' approach, would help individualize MMF therapy in adult lupus nephritis patients to ensure more patients have optimal MPA exposure.


Evaluation of LOINC for representing constitutional cytogenetic test result reports.
Genetic testing is becoming increasingly important to medical practice. Integrating genetics and genomics data into electronic medical records is crucial in translating genetic discoveries into improved patient care. Information technology, especially Clinical Decision Support Systems, holds great potential to help clinical professionals take full advantage of genomic advances in their daily medical practice. However, issues relating to standard terminology and information models for exchanging genetic testing results remain relatively unexplored. This study evaluates whether the current LOINC standard is adequate to represent constitutional cytogenetic test result reports using sample result reports from ARUP Laboratories. The results demonstrate that current standard terminology is insufficient to support the needs of coding cytogenetic test results. The terminology infrastructure must be developed before clinical information systems will be able to handle the high volumes of genetic data expected in the near future.


Soil-transmitted helminthiasis: the relationship between prevalence and classes of intensity of infection.
Recently, WHO has developed a predictive model to evaluate the impact of preventive chemotherapy programs to control the morbidity of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). To make predictions, this model needs baseline information about the proportion of infections classified as low, moderate and high intensity, for each of the three STH species. However, epidemiological data available are often limited to prevalence estimates. We reanalyzed available data from 19 surveys in 10 countries and parameterized the relationship between prevalence of STH infections and the proportion of moderate and heavy intensity infections. The equations derived allow feeding the WHO model with estimates of the proportion of the different classes of infection intensity when only prevalence data is available. The prediction capacities of the STH model using the equations developed in the present study, should be tested by comparing it with the changes on STH epidemiological data observed in control programs operating for several years.


Optical Properties of Au-based and Pt-based Alloys for Infrared Device Applications: A Combined First Principle and Electromagnetic Simulation Study.
Due to the rapid progress in MEMS-based infrared emitters and sensors, strong demand exists for suitable plasmonic materials for such microdevices. We examine the possibility of achieving this goal by alloying other metals with the noble metals Au and Pt, which have some drawbacks, such as low melting point, structural instability, and high costs. The six different metals (Ir, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ta, and W) which possess good properties for heat resistance, stability, and magnetism are mixed with noble metals to improve the properties. The optical properties are calculated by density functional theory and they are used for further investigations of the optical responses of alloy nanorods. The results show that the studied alloy nanorods have wavelength selective properties and can be useful for infrared devices and systems.


A practical and benign synthesis of primary amines through ruthenium-catalyzed reduction of nitriles.
The catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles represents an atom-economic and valuable route to amines. In the present study, the ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation of various organic nitriles to give primary amines has been examined in detail. Straightforward ruthenium complexes modified by cheap and widely available triphenylphosphine allow for the efficient and general reduction of various aryl, alkyl, and heterocyclic nitriles. By using a practical in situ catalyst composed of [Ru(cod)(methylallyl(2))] and PPh(3), excellent yields and chemoselectivity were achieved. Moreover, the catalyst system displays broad functional group tolerance.


Evidence for an important physiological role for calcitonin.
We propose that calcitonin, secreted in response to the intake of food, aids in routing calcium, obtained by intestinal absorption, into bone fluid. Here calcium is temporarily stored in combination with phosphate for return to the extracellular fluid (blood) during intervals between oral intakes of calcium. The net result is a conservation of calcium postprandially and a decrease in parathyroid hormone-induced bone destruction during subsequent fasting periods. Evidence for this postulate is provided in the following six sequential steps from the time a calcium-containing meal is consumed until that portion of calcium stored in bone fluid is utilized during fasting periods to aid in plasma calcium maintenance. (i) Calcitonin secretion is stimulated by feeding and subsequent digestive processes. (ii) Postprandial secretion of calcitonin restricts the efflux of calcium from bone fluid to blood, thereby maintaining parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. (iii) In thyroid-intact individuals, both PTH and calcitonin are secreted postprandially and act in concert on calcium homeostasis. (iv) Calcitonin actively moves phosphate into bone and prevents its loss from bone fluid to blood. (v) Postprandial storage of calcium with phosphate occurs in bone fluid of thyroid-intact individuals. (vi) This labile storage form of calcium is the first to be utilized during fasting periods. In the absence of partial disruption of this storage mechanism, rapid development of pathological bone conditions would not be expected because PTH action permits the extended utilization of bone calcium for plasma calcium control. However, augmentation of osteopenic conditions could be expected if long-term low calcium intake were accompanied by a malfunction of this calcitonin-induced system for calcium storage.


Influence of SO3 on the MnOx/TiO2 SCR catalyst for elemental mercury removal and the function of Fe modification.
Elemental mercury (Hg0) is a highly hazardous pollutant of coal combustion. The low-temperature SCR catalyst of MnOx/TiO2 can efficiently remove Hg0 in coal-burning flue gas. Considering its sulfur sensitivity, the effect of SO3 on the catalytic efficiency of MnOx/TiO2 and Fe modified MnOx/TiO2 for Hg0 removal was investigated comprehensively for the first time. Characterizations of Hg-TPD and XPS were conducted to explore the catalytic mechanisms of Hg0 removal processes under different conditions. Hg0 removal efficiency of MnOx/TiO2 was inhibited irreversibly from 92% to approximately 60% with the addition of 50 ppm SO3 at 150 ℃, which resulted from the transformation of Mn4+ and chemisorbed oxygen to MnSO4. The existence of H2O would intensify the inhibitory effect. The inhibition almost disappeared and even converted to promotion as the temperature increased to 250 ℃ and above. Fe modification on MnOx/TiO2 improved the Hg0 removal performance in the presence of SO3. The addition of SO3 caused only a slight inhibition of 1.9% on Hg0 removal efficiency of Fe modified MnOx/TiO2 in simulated coal-fired flue gas, and the efficiency maintained good stability during a 12 h experimental period. This work would be conducive to the future application of MnOx/TiO2 for synergistic Hg0 removal.


Applications of Optical Neuroimaging in Usability Research.
In this article we review recent and potential applications of optical neuroimaging to human factors and usability research. We focus specifically on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) because of its cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation. Researchers have used fNIRS to assess a range of psychological phenomena relevant to human factors, such as cognitive workload, attention, motor activity, and more. It offers the opportunity to measure hemodynamic correlates of mental activity during task completion in human factors and usability studies. We also consider some limitations and future research directions.


The density and refractive index of adsorbing protein layers.
The structure of the adsorbing layers of native and denatured proteins (fibrinogen, gamma-immunoglobulin, albumin, and lysozyme) was studied on hydrophilic TiO(2) and hydrophobic Teflon-AF surfaces using the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation and optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy techniques. The density and the refractive index of the adsorbing protein layers could be determined from the complementary information provided by the two in situ instruments. The observed density and refractive index changes during the protein-adsorption process indicated the presence of conformational changes (e.g., partial unfolding) in general, especially upon contact with the hydrophobic surface. The structure of the formed layers was found to depend on the size of the proteins and on the experimental conditions. On the TiO(2) surface smaller proteins formed a denser layer than larger ones and the layer of unfolded proteins was less dense than that adsorbed from the native conformation. The hydrophobic surface induced denaturation and resulted in the formation of thin compact protein films of albumin and lysozyme. A linear correlation was found between the quartz crystal microbalance measured dissipation factor and the total water content of the layer, suggesting the existence of a dissipative process that is related to the solvent molecules present inside the adsorbed protein layer. Our measurements indicated that water and solvent molecules not only influence the 3D structure of proteins in solution but also play a crucial role in their adsorption onto surfaces.


Activation of myeloid dendritic cells, effector cells and regulatory T cells in lichen planus.
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory disease. Evaluating the balance between regulatory T cells and effector T cells could be useful for monitoring the proinflammatory profile of LP. Therefore, this study aimed to assess populations of dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory and effector T cells in peripheral blood samples collected from patients with LP to evaluate the polyfunctionality of T cells upon toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from 18 patients with LP and 22 healthy control subjects were stimulated with agonists of TLR4, TLR7, TLR7/TLR8 or TLR9. Frequencies of circulating IFN-α(+) plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs); TNF-α(+) myeloid DCs (mDCs); regulatory T cells (Tregs); and IL-17-, IL-10-, IL-22-, TNF-, and IFN-γ-secreting T cells were assessed via flow cytometry. The frequencies of regulatory CD4(+) and CD8(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)CD127(low/-) T cells and TNF-α(+) mDCs were induced following activation with TLR4, TLR7 and TLR8 agonists in the LP group. Moreover, increased baseline frequencies of CD4(+)IL-10(+) T cells and CD8(+)IL-22(+) or IFN-γ(+)T cells were found. In the LP group, TLR4 activation induced an increased frequency of CD4(+)IFN-γ(+) T cells, while TLR7/8 and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) activation induced an increased frequency of CD8(+) IL-22(+) T cells. An increased frequency of polyfunctional CD4(+) T cells that simultaneously secreted 3 of the evaluated cytokines (not including IL-10) was verified upon TLR7/8/9 activation, while polyfunctional CD8(+) T cells were already detectable at baseline. TLR-mediated activation of the innate immune response induced the production of proinflammatory mDCs, Tregs and polyfunctional T cells in patients with LP. Therefore, TLR activation has an adjuvant role in inducing both innate and adaptive immune responses.


Molecular events responsible for modulation of neoantigenic expression: the cleavage-associated neoantigen of fibrinogen (blood coagulation-fibrinogen cleavage products-fibrinolysis-molecular conformation).
Molecular events responsible for modulation of neoantigenic expressions of a defined molecule have been explored in relation to three hypothetical molecular models (see below). Fibrinogen and its cleavage-associated neoantigen have been used as a prototype system. Physicochemical and enzymatic factors influencing neoantigenic expression were evaluated. The cleavage-associated neoantigen was not only exposed by plasmin and enzymes of similar specificity, but also in a qualitatively and quantitatively deficient fashion by enzymes of differing specificities. Denaturation of fibrinogen via reduction or pH alteration did not induce the neoantigen, but oxidation of the native fibrinogen molecule did elicit this neoantigenic expression. The neoantigen, once exposed on the D-fragment, was relatively stable to physical and chemical denaturation. These results are inconsistent with proposed cleavage site specific and neoconformational determinant models and are consistent with a steric model, which postulates that the cleavage-associated neoantigenic determinant is buried in native fibrinogen but is exposed in certain altered molecular species. The importance of molecular conformation in the exposure of antigenic expressions of a molecule and in modulation of the binding affinity of a neoantigen for specific antibody is demonstrated.


[Influence of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer on the physical and intellectual development of the children at pre-school age].
To study whether the assisted reproductive technology [ in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET)] has influence on the physical and intellectual development of the children at the preschool age. The study group included 50 IVF-ET children, and the control group was a match cohort of 48 children born after being naturally conceived. A matched retrospective cohort study was performed on physical and intellectual development of the two children groups. The control group was matched according to home economics situation, parents' educational level, etc. In the adjusted analysis, the differences of the physical and the intellectual development between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In the language test, the scores of the IVF-ET group was 1.35, 1.05, 1.32, 1.32 higher than those of the control group in the subject of general knowledge, words, synonyms, understanding ability. The IVF-ET group was 1.21 lower than that of the control group in the subject of arithmetics, 1.91 lower than that of the control group in the language subject, 5.5 higher than that of the control group in the operation subject, and 0.40, 0.38 higher than those of the control group in the subject of the maze and geometry. The scores of the control group were 1.04, 0.54, and 0.68 higher than those of the IVF-ET group in the animal house, drawing of vacancy, and block pattern, respectively. The final results of the IVF-ET group and the control group was 115.8 and 114.6, respectively. The ratio of the above medium height of the IVF-ET group and the control group was 30% and 31%, respectively. The ratio of the above medium weight was 30% and 23%, respectively. The IVF-ET group was a little fatter. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the body development. The assisted reproduction technology is not associated with poorer physical and intellectual development. The family pay more attention to the children may promote their development.


Photo- and pH- Dual-Responsive β-Cyclodextrin-Based Supramolecular Prodrug Complex Self-Assemblies for Programmed Drug Delivery.
Despite the fact that progress has been made in the application of supramolecular prodrug self-assemblies to enhance the functionality of drug-delivery systems, corresponding research on multi-responsive supramolecular prodrug self-assemblies for programmed drug delivery is still limited. In this paper, the synthesis and self-assembly behavior of supramolecular prodrug complexes (SPCs) with β-cyclodextrin-acylhydrazone-doxorubicin (β-CD-hydrazone-DOX) and the targeting of azobenzene-terminated poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (Azo-PDMA-FA) as a building block were investigated. The obtained SPCs could also form self-assemblies on the basis of their amphiphilic nature. Next, SPC-based multi-compartment vesicles and complex micelles, which were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic/static light scattering, were obtained with good reversibility under alternative visible light or UV irradiation. Furthermore, three-stage programmed drug-delivery behavior was observed from dual-responsive SPC-based self-assemblies by utilizing UV and pH stimuli. Specifically, the SPCs first self-assembled into multicompartmental vesicles, which was accompanied by a slow release of DOX. Next, UV-light irradiation induced the dissociation of β-CD/Azo, which led to morphology transition and a slight increase in the rate of release of DOX. Upon transferring the self-assemblies to phosphate-buffer solution (pH 5.0), the release rates increased notably as a result of the broken acylhydrazone bond. Finally, basic cell experiments further demonstrated that the SPC-based self-assemblies could be internalized into cancer cells, which suggests their promise for applications in cancer therapy.


The Clinician Investigator program in companion animal internal medicine at north Carolina State University.
A retrospective study was conducted to describe the development and evolution of the combined internal medicine/PhD program, the Clinician Investigator (CI) Program, at North Carolina State University. Separate survey instruments were developed for individuals who had committed to completing both the residency and PhD components and for graduate advisors of individuals who were granted the PhD degree. Results are summarized here. Most CIs reported believing that each component of the program (clinical training and research training) provided mutual benefits and that their teaching skills were enhanced, particularly as a result of instructing students in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Opinions among both the CIs and the graduate advisors were divided about the benefits of a combined program compared with a sequential program; however, all but one of 11 CIs who completed the survey would enroll in the combined program again. The graduate advisors were overwhelming positive about the CIs they had advised and indicated that they would welcome a CI as a PhD student in their laboratory again. Suggested areas for improvement included guaranteed salary/stipend support for the average time to completion (six years) instead of for five years, as well as more emphasis on and guidance in identifying a graduate advisor earlier in the CI program so as to smooth the transition between the clinical and research training components of the program. It is hoped that other training programs will benefit from the summary of our experience with this program.


Cushing's disease in dogs: cabergoline treatment.
The treatment of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) in dogs has for a long time been focused on inhibiting the adrenal gland using drugs such as o-p'-DDD, Ketoconazole and Trilostane, without attacking the primary cause: the corticotrophinoma. Corticotroph cells can express the D2 dopaminergic receptor; therefore cabergoline (Cbg) could be effective as a treatment. Follow-up over 4 years was carried out in 40 dogs with PDH that were treated with Cbg (0.07 mg/kg/week. Out of the 40 dogs, 17 responded to Cbg (42.5%). A year after the treatment, there was a significant decrease in ACTH (p<0.0001), alpha-MSH (p<0.01), urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (p<0.001), and of the tumor size (p<0.0001) evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance. Dogs responding to Cbg lived significantly longer (p<0.001) than those in the control group. To conclude, Cbg is useful in 42.5% of dogs with PDH, justifying its use as a treatment.


High-Quality InAsSb Nanowires Grown by Catalyst-Free Selective-Area Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition.
We report on the first demonstration of InAs1-xSbx nanowires grown by catalyst-free selective-area metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (SA-MOCVD). Antimony composition as high as 15 % is achieved, with strong photoluminescence at all compositions. The quality of the material is assessed by comparing the photoluminescence (PL) peak full-width at half-max (fwhm) of the nanowires to that of epitaxially grown InAsSb thin films on InAs. We find that the fwhm of the nanowires is only a few meV broader than epitaxial films, and a similar trend of relatively constant fwhm for increasing antimony composition is observed. Furthermore, the PL peak energy shows a strong dependence on temperature, suggesting wave-vector conserving transitions are responsible for the observed PL in spite of lattice mismatched growth on InAs substrate. This study shows that high-quality InAsSb nanowires can be grown by SA-MOCVD on lattice mismatched substrate, resulting in material suitable for infrared detectors and high-performance nanoelectronic devices.


Pseudomonas fluorescens orchestrates a fine metabolic-balancing act to counter aluminium toxicity.
Aluminium (Al), an environmental toxin, is known to disrupt cellular functions by perturbing iron (Fe) homeostasis. However, Fe is essential for such metabolic processes as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, the two pivotal networks that mediate ATP production during aerobiosis. To counter the Fe conundrum induced by Al toxicity, Pseudomonas fluorescens utilizes isocitrate lyase and isocitrate dehydrogenase-NADP dependent to metabolize citrate when confronted with an ineffective aconitase provoked by Al stress. By invoking fumarase C, a hydratase devoid of Fe, this microbe is able to generate essential metabolites. To compensate for the severely diminished enzymes like Complex I, Complex II and Complex IV, the upregulation of a H(2)O-generating NADH oxidase enables the metabolism of citrate, the sole carbon source via a modified TCA cycle. The overexpression of succinyl-CoA synthetase affords an effective route to ATP production by substrate-level phosphorylation in the absence of O(2). This fine metabolic balance enables P. fluorescens to survive the dearth of bioavailable Fe triggered by an Al environment, a feature that may have potential applications in bioremediation technologies.


Gem, a GTP-binding protein from mitogen-stimulated T cells, is induced in endothelial cells upon activation by inflammatory cytokines.
Using differential screening of cytokine-activated versus resting porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC), we have isolated a member of the family of Ras/GTP-binding proteins. The cDNA encodes a 34-kilodalton protein showing 97% homology to Gem, a gene recently isolated from activated T cells, likely representing its porcine homologue. The amino acid sequence differs from the Ras consensus by the absence of a C-terminal isoprenylation site and a glycine to glutamic acid substitution in the third GTP-binding domain. We report here, that pigGem mRNA is strongly inducible in PAEC upon activation by either IL-1 alpha, TNF alpha or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Low constitutive expression is found in several organs. Epitope-tagged pigGem transfected into endothelial cells (EC) localizes to the cytoplasm and to the inner side of the plasma membrane. Structural features of Gem and its inducibility apparently restricted to T cells and endothelial cells, together with Rad, a GTPase overexpressed in skeletal muscle cells of type II diabetic individuals, define a new branch within the superfamily of GTP-binding proteins.


Ensemble and Single Particle Fluorescence Characterization of Dye-Labeled Cellulose Nanocrystals.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been covalently labeled with both fluorescein and rhodamine and studied by a combination of UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and ensemble and single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. For all samples, the fluorescence anisotropy and lifetimes were consistent with effects expected for covalently bound dye molecules. Low dye loading levels (∼0.1 dye/particle) were estimated for the fluorescein-labeled CNC which coupled with the strong pH dependence make this a less suitable fluorophore for most applications. Rhodamine-labeled CNCs were prepared from both sulfated and carboxylated CNCs and had loading levels that varied from 0.25 to ∼15 dye molecules/CNC. For the sulfated samples, the absorption due to (nonfluorescent) dimeric dye increased with dye loading; in contrast, the carboxylated sample, which had the highest rhodamine content, had a low dimer yield. Single particle fluorescence studies for two of the rhodamine-labeled CNCs demonstrated that individual particles are readily detected by their stepwise blinking/bleaching behavior and by polarization effects. Overall, the results indicate the importance of understanding the effects of loading on dye photophysics to select an optimal dye concentration to maximize sensitivity while minimizing the effect of the dye on the CNC behavior. The results also demonstrate that CNCs with relatively low dye loadings (e.g., ∼1 dye/particle) are readily detectable by fluorescence and should be adequate for use in fluorescence-based biological assays or to probe the distribution of CNCs in composite materials.


Uterine miR-877-3p and let-7a-5p are increased during simulated menstruation in a mouse model.
Heavy periods are common and debilitating, but we do not fully understand how they are caused. Increased understanding of menstrual bleeding could result in new treatments for problematic periods. Low oxygen levels are present in the womb lining during a period. These low oxygen levels help trigger the repair process required to stop menstrual bleeding. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecules that can affect cell function, and some are regulated by oxygen levels. We examined whether such miRNAs were present in the womb lining during a period. To overcome the variability present in humans, we studied the womb of mice given hormones to mimic the human menstrual cycle. We revealed that two miRNAs known to be regulated by oxygen levels were increased in the womb during menstruation. These miRNAs may help regulate menstrual blood loss and merit further study as a potential target for future treatments for heavy periods.


Reconstruction of elongated bubbles fusing the information from multiple optical probes through a Bayesian inference technique.
In this communication, a novel optical technique has been proposed for the reconstruction of the shape of a Taylor bubble using measurements from multiple arrays of optical sensors. The deviation of an optical beam passing through the bubble depends on the contour of bubble surface. A theoretical model of the deviation of a beam during the traverse of a Taylor bubble through it has been developed. Using this model and the time history of the deviation captured by the sensor array, the bubble shape has been reconstructed. The reconstruction has been performed using an inverse algorithm based on Bayesian inference technique and Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithm. The reconstructed nose shape has been compared with the true shape, extracted through image processing of high speed images. Finally, an error analysis has been performed to pinpoint the sources of the errors.


Visual evoked potentials and visual processing in stimulant drug-exposed infants.
Prenatal exposure to cocaine and amphetamines has been associated with many adverse effects in infants, including neurological abnormalities. Recent evidence shows that the visual system may be useful in infancy to evaluate neurological functioning. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and visual recognition memory testing were carried out on eight infants with prenatal drug-exposure and eight controls, matched for ethnicity and socio-economic status. The drug-exposed infants performed significantly worse on the visual recognition test. However, there were no differences between groups on VEP testing and no correlations between tests. The results suggest that the difficulties found in visual recognition memory of drug-exposed infants are not related to neurological maturity, as measured by VEPs.


In vitro effects of increased temperature and decreased pH on blood oxygen affinity of 10 fish species of the Amazon.
Blood-O2 affinities (P50 ) were measured over a physiologically relevant pH range at 31 (highest temperature average of Rio Negro over the last 8 years), 33 and 35° C for 10 species of the Rio Negro, aiming to test the acute effects of temperature foreseen by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) for coming years. The animals were collected during an expedition to the Anavilhanas Islands of the Rio Negro, 110 km upstream from Manaus (2° 23' 41″ S; 60° 55' 14″ W). Hoplias malabaricus showed higher blood-O2 sensitivity to pH changes (Bohr effect, Φ = Δlog10 P50 ΔpH(-1) ) at both 31° C (Φ = -0·44) and 35° C (Φ = -0·26) compared to Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (Φ = -0·54 at 31° C and Φ = -0·58 at 35° C), but lower P50 under most conditions, and a greater sensitivity of P50 to temperature. Two out of the 10 analysed species had significant increases of P50 (lower blood-O2 affinity) at the highest temperature throughout the pH range tested. For all other species, a minor increase of P50 over the assay-tested temperatures was observed, although all presented a normal Bohr effect. Overall, a diversity of intensities of pH and temperature effects on blood-O2 affinities was observed, which seems to be connected to the biological characteristics of the analysed species. Thermal disturbances in their habitats, likely to occur due to the global warming, would impair blood-O2 binding and unloading in some of the analysed fish species. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Population-based prevalence study of Behçet's disease: differences by ethnic origin and low variation by age at immigration.
To estimate the prevalence of Behçet's disease (BD) in a multiethnic population living in France, with particular focus on disease risk among immigrants. The study was conducted in a county in the Paris metropolitan area that is home to 1,094,412 adults (ages > or =15 years), of whom 26% are of non-European ancestry. Patients with BD living in this area during 2003 were identified using 3 sources (hospitals, community physicians, and the National Health Insurance database), and diagnoses were verified using the International Study Group criteria. Standardized, year-2003 prevalence rates were computed for the overall population and for each ethnic group. Stratified prevalence rates according to age at immigration to France were calculated to investigate the relationship between age at immigration and BD risk. Seventy-nine subjects fulfilled our search criteria. The overall prevalence per 100,000 adults was 7.1 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.5-14.4), and the prevalence for populations of European, North African, and Asian ancestry was 2.4 (95% CI 0.6-7.2), 34.6 (95% CI 24.4-47.5), and 17.5 (95% CI 10.7-27.2), respectively. Within the migrant population of either North African or Asian ancestry, BD prevalences were similar for residents born in France, residents <15 years old at immigration, and residents > or =15 years old at immigration. Our findings indicate that the prevalence of BD among immigrants of North African or Asian ancestry is significantly higher than that in the European-origin population, and comparable with rates reported from North Africa and Asia. Moreover, our results suggest that BD risk is not related to age at immigration. These findings support the hypothesis that BD has a primarily hereditary basis.


Do young children always say yes to yes-no questions? A metadevelopmental study of the affirmation bias.
The present study investigated whether yes-no questions would lead to a yes bias in young children. Four experiments were conducted in which 2- to 5-year-olds were asked comprehensible and incomprehensible yes-no questions concerning familiar and unfamiliar objects. Consistent findings were obtained: (a) 2-year-olds displayed a consistent yes bias; (b) 4- and 5-year-olds exhibited no response bias toward comprehensible questions and a nay-saying bias toward incomprehensible questions; and (c) 3-year-olds' results were mixed, suggesting that the age of 3 years is a period of developmental transition in response tendency toward yes-no questions. The findings suggest that yes-no questions are suitable for older children, providing they are comprehensible, but may result in biased results when used with younger children and when incomprehensible.


Assessing autobiographical memory: the web-based autobiographical Implicit Association Test.
By assessing the association strength with TRUE and FALSE, the autobiographical Implicit Association Test (aIAT) [Sartori, G., Agosta, S., Zogmaister, C., Ferrara, S. D., & Castiello, U. (2008). How to accurately detect autobiographical events. Psychological Science, 19, 772-780. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02156.x ] aims to determine which of two contrasting statements is true. To efficiently run well-powered aIAT experiments, we propose a web-based aIAT (web-aIAT). Experiment 1 (n = 522) is a web-based replication study of the first published aIAT study [Sartori, G., Agosta, S., Zogmaister, C., Ferrara, S. D., & Castiello, U. (2008). How to accurately detect autobiographical events. Psychological Science, 19, 772-780. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02156.x ; Experiment 1]. We conclude that the replication was successful as the web-based aIAT could accurately detect which of two playing cards participants chose (AUC = .88; Hit rate = 81%). In Experiment 2 (n = 424), we investigated whether the use of affirmative versus negative sentences may partly explain the variability in aIAT accuracy findings. The aIAT could detect the chosen card when using affirmative (AUC = .90; Hit rate = 81%), but not when using negative sentences (AUC = .60; Hit rate = 53%). The web-based aIAT seems to be a valuable tool to facilitate aIAT research and may help to further identify moderators of the test's accuracy.


Single-session high intensity focussed ablation (HIFU) versus open cervical hemithyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodule: analysis on early efficacy, safety and voice quality.
High intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising non-surgical treatment for symptomatic benign thyroid nodule. We aimed to compare early efficacy, safety and voice quality between HIFU ablation and open thyroidectomy. Consecutive patients who underwent single-session HIFU ablation or a hemithyroidectomy for symptomatic benign thyroid nodule were included. The 6-month extent of nodule shrinkage, symptom improvement score, thyroid function, hospital stay and cost were compared between the two procedures. Safety was defined by absence of major complications like recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and skin burn. Voice quality was assessed by a computerised multi-dimensional voice programme and a Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire 1-month after treatment. Altogether, 43 patients had HIFU and 103 patients had a hemithyroidectomy. In the HIFU group, the extent of nodule shrinkage at 6-month was 51.71 ± 16.04%. No patients in the HIFU group suffered skin burn or hypothyroidism. The HIFU group had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay (0.3 vs. 1.0 day, p < 0.001), lower incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (1/43 vs. 21/103, p = 0.008), higher symptom improvement score (p = 0.009) and was less costly (USD 1923.1 vs. USD 5384.6). Relative to HIFU, pitch quality also worsen after surgery (p < 0.05). Relative to surgery, single HIFU ablation appeared efficacious and safe. Apart from shorter hospital stay, less subclinical hypothyroidism, being scar-less, lower cost and more symptom improvement, HIFU patients were less affected by a pitch problem in the first month. This study provides a strong argument for HIFU ablation as a treatment for symptomatic benign thyroid nodule.


Neuromuscular activity impairs axonal sprouting in partially denervated muscles by inhibiting bridge formation of perisynaptic Schwann cells.
Following partial denervation of rat hindlimb muscle, terminal Schwann cells extend processes from denervated endplates to induce and guide sprouting from the remaining intact axons. Increased neuromuscular activity significantly reduces motor unit enlargement and sprouting during the acute phase of sprouting. These findings led to the hypothesis that increased neuromuscular activity perturbs formation of Schwann cell bridges and thereby reduces sprouting. Adult rat tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were extensively denervated by avulsion of L4 spinal root and were immediately subjected to normal caged activity or running exercise (8 h daily) for 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Combined silver/cholinesterase histochemical staining revealed that the progressive reinnervation of denervated endplates by sprouts over a 1 month period in the extensively partially denervated TA muscles was completely abolished by increased neuromuscular activity. Immunohistochemical staining and triple immunofluorescence revealed that the increased neuromuscular activity did not perturb the production of Schwann cell processes, but prevented bridging between Schwann cell processes at innervated and denervated endplates. Our findings suggest that failure of Schwann cell processes to bridge between endplates accounts, at least in part, for the inhibitory effect of increased neuromuscular activity on sprouting.


Synthesis of Substituted Benzo[b]thiophenes via Sequential One-Pot, Copper-Catalyzed Intermolecular C-S Bond Formation and Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Arene-Alkene Coupling of Bis(het)aryl/alkyl-1,3-monothiodiketones and o-Bromoiodoarenes.
A new, convergent, one-pot synthesis of 2,3-substituted benzo[b]thiophenes from readily available 1,3-bis(het)aryl-1,3-monothiodiketones and o-bromoiodoarenes involving a sequential copper-catalyzed intermolecular C-S coupling followed by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arene-alkene coupling of in situ generated β-(o-bromoaryl)thiovinylketones has been described. Synthesis of a few thieno- and furano-fused 2-(het)aroylethylidenethiochromenes via intramolcular direct C-H (het)arylation of β-(o-bromoaryl)thioenones carrying 2-thienyl/furyl groups under different palladium-catalyzed conditions has also been reported.


Relationship between acute glucose variability and cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cognitive decline is one of the most widespread chronic complications of diabetes, which occurs in more than half of the patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Emerging evidences have suggested that glucose variability (GV) is associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. However, the influence of acute GV on cognitive dysfunction in T2DM is still controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between acute GV and cognitive defect in T2DM, and provide a most recent and comprehensive summary of the evidences in this research field. PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE, Web of science, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang were searched for articles that reported on the association between acute GV and cognitive impairment in T2DM. 9 eligible studies were included, with a total of 1263 patients with T2DM involved. Results showed that summary Fisher's z value was -0.23 [95%CI (-0.39, -0.06)], suggesting statistical significance (P = 0.006). Summary r value was -0.22 [95%CI (-0.37, -0.06)]. A lower cognitive performance was found in the subjects with greater glucose variation, which has statistical significance. Mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) was associated with a higher risk of poor functional outcomes. Fisher's z value was -0.35 [95%CI (-0.43, -0.25)], indicating statistical significance (P = 0.011). Sensitivity analyses by omitting individual studies showed stability of the results. Overall, higher acute GV is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM. Further studies should be required to determine whether targeted intervention of reducing acute GV could prevent cognitive decline.


Emergence of extended spectrum beta lactamase mediated resistance in neonatal septicemia.
This study was carried out in microbiology department of Gulbarga university, Gulbarga to find out the frequency of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESbL) producing gram-negative bacilli isolated from neonatal septicemic cases. This study was carried out from Oct 2001 to June 2004. A total of 471 consecutive Gram-negative bacilli were recovered during the study period from blood samples. Extended spectrum beta lactamase detection in gram-negative isolates was carried out by double disk synergistic method on Mueller Hinton agar. A susceptibility disk containing amoxicillin-clavulanate was placed as the inhibitor of beta lactamase in the center of the plate, and cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and aztreonam disks were placed 30 mm (center to center) from the amoxicillin-clavulanate disk. Enhancement of the zone of inhibition of the oxyimino-lactam caused by the synergy of the clavulanate in the amoxicillin-clavulanate disk was considered as evidence of ESbL production. Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 were used as control strains. The frequency of ESbL producing gram-negative bacilli among the neonatal septicemic cases was 22.7%.


Investigation of pregnancy-associated malaria by microscopy, rapid diagnostic test and PCR in Bandundu, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The study was conducted to investigate malaria prevalence among a group of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who received intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). A total of 250 women from Bandundu city who received two doses of IPTp-SP were enrolled in the survey. Blood samples were collected at the time of delivery and malaria prevalence was determined using microscopy, rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Malaria infection was detected in 81 (32.4%), 93 (37.2%), and 92 (36.8%) samples by microscopy, RDT, and PCR, respectively. Among 92 samples, P. falciparum mono-infection (n=87; 94.5%), P. falciparum+P. vivax (n=2; 2.2%) and P. falciparum+P. malariae (n=1; 1.1%) mixed infections, and P. vivax mono-infection (n=2; 2.2%) were detected. Prevalence of malaria was not affected by age and number of pregnancies (p>0.05). Microscopy and RDT, either alone (κ=0.29; p<0.001) or in combination (κ=0.33; p<0.001) showed a fair agreement with PCR. Our findings indicate that two doses of IPTp-SP did not protect the women against malaria in the DRC, and support the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines that ensure a minimum of three doses of SP in pregnancy.


Pitted keratolysis: successful management with mupirocin 2% ointment monotherapy.
Pitted keratolysis is a benign dermatosis that occurs on plantar skin. We describe a man with pitted keratolysis that was successfully treated with mupirocin 2% ointment monotherapy. We reviewed PubMed for the following terms: mupirocin, ointment, pitted keratolysis, treatment. We also reviewed papers containing these terms and their references. Complete resolution of pitted keratolysis occurred following monotherapy with twice daily application of mupirocin 2% ointment for a duration of three weeks. There was no recurrence at a follow-up visit eight weeks later. Several topical and oral treatments are available to successfully manage pitted keratolysis. Our patient confirms previous reports of pitted keratolysis resolving with mupirocin 2% ointment treatment. Monotherapy with mupirocin 2% ointment should be considered as a primary treatment alternative for pitted keratolysis.


Electronic structures of defects in ZnO: hybrid density functional studies.
Theoretical investigation of the defect energy levels in band gap for ZnO is of great importance to understand the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum in experiment. However, the "band-gap" problem in the density functional calculations leads to incorrect evaluation of the defect levels inside the band gap. In this work, we perform hybrid density functional calculation, which can accurately predict the band gap width and the gap states, to study the electronic structures of both native defects and doped impurities of Li, Na, K, and Ag in ZnO. Our results show that both the vacancies and octahedral self-interstitials of O and Zn contribute to the broad green PL spectrum observed in experiments. In addition, the gap states arising from these doped impurities are predicted, where some of the gap states match with the experimental values. Moreover, the characters of these gap states are discussed based on the calculated density of states.


Risk of caesarean delivery after induction of labour stratified by foetal sex.
This study describes a retrospective analysis of all women admitted for induction of labour (IoL), carrying a viable singleton foetus, after 34 + 0 weeks of gestation. We aimed to evaluate if foetal sex has an impact on the rate of caesarean delivery following labour induction. Our results demonstrate that among the 1062 women who met the inclusion criteria, 49% (521/1062) were carrying a male foetus. Other than a lower rate of Oxytocin use for the female sex pregnancies, there were no significant differences in pre-labour and labour characteristics between male or female sex pregnancies. There was no difference in caesarean delivery rate between groups (14.4% vs. 14.2%, male vs. female, respectively, p = .505). We concluded conclude that foetal sex does not impact the caesarean delivery rate among women undergoing IoL, regardless of the indication for induction and the indication for the caesarean delivery. Impact statement Male sex foetuses are at increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes including, among others, an increased risk for caesarean delivery. The possible contribution of male sex to caesarean delivery after labour induction has not been specifically explored. Following induction of labour, there is no difference in failed induction or caesarean delivery rate between male and female sex pregnancies. Induction of labour may be safely employed for both male and female foetuses.


Engineering the extracellular matrix for clinical applications: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm.
Tissue engineering is rapidly progressing from a research-based discipline to clinical applications. Emerging technologies could be utilized to develop therapeutics for a wide range of diseases, but many are contingent on a cell scaffold that can produce proper tissue ultrastructure. The extracellular matrix, which a cell scaffold simulates, is not merely a foundation for tissue growth but a dynamic participant in cellular crosstalk and organ homeostasis. Cells change their growth rates, recruitment, and differentiation in response to the composition, modulus, and patterning of the substrate on which they reside. Cell scaffolds can regulate these factors through precision design, functionalization, and application. The ideal therapy would utilize highly specialized cell scaffolds to best mimic the tissue of interest. This paper discusses advantages and challenges of optimized cell scaffold design in the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm for clinical applications in tracheal transplant, cardiac regeneration, and skin grafts, respectively.


Synthetic peptides to identify antigenic determinants on Epstein-Barr virus gp350/220.
We synthesized three peptides, MA1 - Thr19-Val28(+Tyr) -, MA2 - Ser807-Ala816-, and MA3-Ser718-Glu729(+Tyr) from the sequence of Epstein-Barr virus gp350/220 and immunized rabbits with these peptides. Rabbit antisera to the peptides had antipeptide radioimmunoassay titers of 1:400 for anti-MA1, 1:200 for anti-MA2, and 1:1600 for anti-MA3. The anti-MA1 serum recognized gp350/220 in Western blotting to SDS-electrophoresed proteins from 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate- and n-butyrate-treated B95-8 cells, but anti-MA2 and MA3 sera did not. None of the sera reacted with gp350/220 by membrane or cytoplasmic immunofluorescence or by immunoprecipitation of Triton X-100 solubilized proteins.


Political identity dissimilarity, workplace incivility, and declines in well-being: A prospective investigation.
The workplace is an environment where individuals have little choice about with whom they interact. As such, employees may find themselves engaged in conversations with coworkers whose political opinions and perspectives are divergent from their own. In the present study, we examined how coworkers' (dis)similarity in political identity is related to the quality of their interpersonal interactions and subsequent well-being. We predicted that political identity dissimilarity is associated with experiences of workplace incivility and, in turn, declines in psychological and occupational well-being. We tested our hypotheses in a four-wave survey study conducted during the 2012 U.S. presidential election using structural equation modeling. Consistent with our expectations, results indicated that political identity dissimilarity was associated with increased reports of incivility experiences instigated by coworkers, which, in turn, was associated with increased burnout and turnover intentions and diminished job satisfaction. The relationship between incivility and well-being was mediated by psychological distress. Overall, the findings demonstrate that political identity dissimilarity is detrimentally related to job attitudes and well-being via triggering workplace incivility, which provides meaningful implications for organizations on how to mitigate the negative influences of identity dissimilarity.


Decreased insulin response to sustained hyperglycemia in exercise-trained rats.
Male Wistar rats were studied to determine if exercise training reduces the insulin response to sustained hyperglycemia. Training (TN) for 8 wk on a treadmill resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05) increased time to exhaustion in TN compared to control animals (CN). Hyperglycemic glucose clamps at 11 mM for 90 min resulted in elevations of arterial plasma insulin to 23.6 +/- 4.3 ng.ml-1 (mean +/- SE, N = 7) in CN and 11.8 +/- 1.1 ng.ml-1 (N = 7) in TN (P less than 0.05). No significant difference between groups existed for the level of imposed hyperglycemia. Glucose infusion rates required to maintain the sustained hyperglycemia were 62.7 +/- 3.2 mg.kg-1 min-1 in CN and 68.5 +/- 3.0 mg.kg-1.min-1 in TN (P greater than 0.05) at the end of the glucose clamp. These data show that exercise training reduces the insulin response to sustained steady state hyperglycemia.


Reconstitution of the fusogenic activity of vesicular stomatitis virus.
Enveloped virus glycoproteins exhibit membrane fusion activity. We have analysed whether the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus, reconstituted into liposomes, is able to fuse nucleated cells in a pH-dependent fashion. Proteoliposomes produced by octylglucoside dialysis did not exhibit cell fusion activity of the G protein. However, by making use of n-dodecyl octaethylene monoether (C12E8) as the solubilizing agent and by removal of the detergent in two steps, we were able to produce fusogenic G protein liposomes. These G protein liposomes fuse to the BHK-21 cell surface at pH 5.7-6.0 with an efficiency of fusion comparable with that of the parent virus. Physical and chemical analysis revealed that the fusogenic liposomes exhibited a protein to lipid weight ratio of 0.67 and showed an average diameter of 130 nm.


Two mutations that block heterocyst differentiation have different effects on akinete differentiation in Nostoc ellipsosporum.
Evident differentiation of vegetative cells into heterocysts in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is prevented by insertions in genes hetR and hetP. Nostoc ellipsosporum possesses single copies of genes that hybridize with hetR and hetP. In mutant NE2 of N. ellipsosporum, in which hetR is interrupted by an insert, and in a double recombinant of wild-type N. ellipsosporum with a plasmid that bears an interrupted copy of hetR, neither heterocysts nor akinetes are formed. When an intact copy of hetR from Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 was added to NE2 the ability to form both heterocysts and akinetes was restored. In contrast to the hetR mutant, a hetP mutant of N. ellipsosporum could form akinetes, but heterocyst formation was blocked. Use of luxAB, encoding luciferase, as a reporter, and use of luxC, luxD and luxE to generate aldehyde (a substrate for the luciferase reaction), permitted visualization of the expression of hetR at the level of single cells; hetR was expressed in akinetes.


Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cutaneous tumour that typically arises in the head and neck area of elderly patients. The tumour often follows an aggressive course with frequent local recurrences and (regional) metastases, especially when localized above the clavicles. Five patients with a Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck, treated in our institute since 1984, are presented, illustrating the need for radical initial treatment consisting of surgery and radiotherapy, and showing how rapidly progressive the disease can be. Four of the five patients were cured of disease by a combination of surgery and radiotherapy.


Leprosy: Trophic Skin Ulcers.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Approximately 30% of patients with leprosy develop nerve damage. Trophic, or neuropathic, ulcer is a common complication of an anesthetic foot. The term plantar, trophic, or perforating ulcer was introduced in 1959. It was defined as a chronic ulceration of the anesthetic foot, situated in well-defined areas overlying bony prominences, resistant to local and/or systemic therapy, and characterized by a marked tendency to recur. It is responsible for much of the morbidity associated with leprosy.


Effects of platelet-rich plasma on cartilage regeneration after costal cartilage resection: a stereological and histopathological study.
In cases of congenital chest wall deformities, it is important to maintain the flexibility of the chest wall after rib cartilage resection. In this study, we aimed to determine the regeneration capability of cartilage and the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the regeneration process. A total of 16 four-week-old New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. In the 4th-5th right costal cartilages, the perichondrial sheaths were dissected and costal cartilages were excised. Then, the perichondrial sheaths were closed with absorbable material in the sham group (n = 8), and this was done after replacing PRP in the PRP group (n = 8). The left costal cartilages of the animals were used as controls. The volumes of the costal cartilages and their perichondrial sheaths were estimated using Cavalieri's principle. In addition, the mean numerical densities of the chondroblasts and chondrocytes per square millimetre were estimated using unbiased counting frames. In the PRP and sham groups, the volumes of the cartilages and perichondrial sheaths were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The numerical densities of the chondroblasts and chondrocytes increased more in the PRP group than in the sham group (p < 0.05). Applying PRP after resection may provide better healing and faster regeneration of cartilage.